Stabilizing systems for deck pedestals

ABSTRACT

A stabilizing system for a deck system has a plurality of pedestals, a plurality of connection locations on a periphery of the pedestals and at least one stabilizing member secured g between the pedestals. Each of the pedestals supports corner portions of adjacent blocks, pavers or panels a spaced distance above an underlying structure extending generally parallel to the blocks, pavers or panels. The plurality of connection locations on a periphery of the pedestals are located both proximate the supported corner portions and proximate the underlying structure. At least one stabilizing member in the form of a stabilizing bar, elongate wires, wire rope, cable or rods is secured to and extends between the connection locations of at least two of the pedestals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/555,716, filed Nov. 2, 2006 now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pedestals for deck systemsand more particularly to stabilizing systems for such deck systems.

BACKGROUND

Roof structures of many buildings are capable of supporting asubstantially horizontal surface, or deck, enabling the construction ofroof terraces, pedestrian walkways, roof gardens, plaza decks, sundecks, balconies, patios or the like. Such roof surfaces are oftenformed at a slight slope relative to horizontal for drainage purposes.Typically, the roof surface itself is not constructed of a material thatprovides a suitable traffic bearing surface nor is it aestheticallypleasing.

Examples of deck systems utilizing roof pavers, or ballast blocks, aredisclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,887,397; 5,377,468; 5,442,882; and6,604,330 B2 issued to Repasky. Also see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,570,397 issuedto Creske; and 5,588,264 and 6,332,292 B1 issued to Buzon.

While the rooftop ballast block deck systems disclosed in the abovereferenced patents may be satisfactory for their intended purposes,there is a need, especially with systems using height adjustablepedestals, for stabilizing systems. Such stabilizing systems are neededto minimize movement of the ballast block deck systems which theysupport.

SUMMARY

In view of these needs, the present invention provides a stabilizingsystem which restrains relative movement of the pedestals it supports.The stabilizing system has a plurality of connection locations on aperiphery of the pedestals and at least one stabilizing member secured gbetween the pedestals. Each of the pedestals supports corner portions ofadjacent blocks, pavers or panels a spaced distance above an underlyingstructure extending generally parallel to the blocks, pavers or panels.The plurality of connection locations on a periphery of the pedestalsare located both proximate the supported corner portions and proximatethe underlying structure. At least one stabilizing member is secured toand extends between the connection locations of at least two of thepedestals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention should becomeapparent from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedestal embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of a deck system having crossbracing between adjacent pedestals according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate pedestal;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of stabilizer bar for use with the analternate pedestal of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A is a bottom perspective view of stabilizer bar of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of a deck system havingstabilizer bars between adjacent pedestals according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of a deck system havingstabilizer bars and cross bracing between adjacent pedestals accordingto the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings, a deck 10 is constructed of a pluralityof separate, substantially-rectangular pavers, ballast blocks, or panels12 (hereinafter referred to as blocks) that are arranged in a gridlayout, or pattern, and that are supported a spaced distance above asurface, such as an exterior roof surface 14 of a building. The deck 10provides a substantially level traffic-bearing surface 16 forpedestrians and an aesthetic appearance. It can be used to convert anotherwise unusable rooftop or like space into a useful area.

Each block 12 can be made of concrete, marble, granite, wood, rubber,plastic, composite materials, or like weight-bearing substance and istypically square, rectangle, or some other shape that can be positionedin uniform patterns. Thus, each block 12 will typically have cornerportions 18, and the deck 10 will have intersection areas 20 in whichcorner portions 18 of adjacent blocks 12 extend. A separate pedestal 22underlies each intersection area 20 and supports the corner portions 18of the adjacent ballast blocks 12. Thus, the entire deck 10 is elevatedfrom an underlying structure, such as exterior roof surface 14 whichextends and lies generally parallel to the deck 10. The spacing providedbetween the blocks 12 and surface 14 and between the laterallypositioned blocks 12 permits proper drainage of fluids, such as rain,through the deck 10.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, each pedestal 22 includes a support 24 atan upper end thereof and a base 26 at a lower end thereof. The presenceof an intermediate coupler 50, as shown in FIG. 1, is optional. In itssimplest form, the pedestal 22 can consist solely of the support 24 andbase 26 without an intermediate coupler 50. The support 24 and base 26are preferably manufactured separately and may be molded of plastic. Thesupport 24 and base 26 interconnect in a manner permitting an overallheight of the pedestal 22 to be adjusted. More specifically, the actionof rotating the support 24 relative to the base 26 causes the height ofthe pedestal 22 to be altered. Thus, the height of each pedestal 22 inthe deck 10 can be readily adjusted, as required, during installation ofthe deck 10 and/or during maintenance thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support 24 includes a plate 28 with asubstantially cylindrical post 30 depending therefrom. In use, the plate28 is disposed in a substantially horizontal position thereby providinga surface on which the corner portions 18 of the blocks 12 can besupported. Preferably, a plurality of upstanding walls 32 project fromthe plate 28 and define separate quadrants 34 on the plate 28. Eachquadrant 34 receives one corner portion 18 of a block 12. The walls 32align the corner portions 18 on the pedestal 22 and define lateralspacing between adjacent blocks 12 to permit rain water and other fluidsto drain through the deck 10 and around the outside of plate 28.

One or more couplers 50 can be assembled between the support 24 and base26 to add further height to the pedestal 22. For example, FIG. 2 showsthe use of a couplers 50. Each coupler 50 is identical and separatelymanufactured from preferably the same material as the support 24 andbase 26.

Each coupler 50 includes a flange, or collar 52, from which asubstantially cylindrical, hollow post 54 projects and anothersubstantially cylindrical post depends (not shown) and receivable by thebase 26 (as shown). In this configuration, the flange 52 extendscircumferentially about a mid-section of the coupler 50 and extendslaterally therefrom. Continuous or discontinuous spiral threads (notshown) are provided on an inner surface of the hollow post 54 and arecapable of cooperatively engaging threads on a post 30 of the support24. In addition, continuous or discontinuous spiral threads (not shown)are provided on an outer surface of the hollow post depending from theflange, and are capable of cooperatively engaging the threads on post ofthe base 26. Each of the continuous or discontinuous spiral threadspositioned in the hollow post 54 and on the other hollow post (notshown) of the coupler 50 are received by the support 24 and base 26respectively. For instance, in FIG. 3, the base 26 is shown havingcontinuous spiral threads that are engageable with the continuous ordiscontinuous spiral threads provided on other hollow post. Accordingly,the coupler 50 can be used to interconnect the support 24 to the base26. Further, the couplers 50 are designed to interconnect to each otherso that multiple couplers 50 can be interconnected between the support24 and the base 26. Rotation of the couplers 50, support 24, and base 26relative to each other can be used to adjust the overall height of thepedestal 22.

Preferably, the flange 52 of each coupler 50 extends in a plane that issubstantially parallel to the support plate 28 and base plate 42. SeeFIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiments, the flange 52 is annular;however, it could be of any shape in plan. In addition, the supportplate 28 may be of a similar size, in plan, to that of the base plate42. For example, both plates 28 and 42 can be provided in a circularshape, in plan, having substantially identical diameters. Alternatively,the plates, 28 and 42, and the flange 52 can be of different shapes andsizes.

The flange 52 preferably has a series of connection locations 62 whichin this embodiment are formed as eyelets extending therethrough. Forinstance, the connection locations 62 can be provided as apertures thatare circumferentially spaced-apart about the mid-section of the coupler50. The connection locations 62 as shown in FIG. 1. may include optionalreinforcements which extend around the aperture and outward from theflange surface. In the illustrated embodiment, sixteen separateconnection locations 62 are equally spaced-apart about the coupler 50.Fewer or more connection locations 62 can be provided on the annularflange 52. The connection locations 62 are used for securing the ends ofbracing wires to the pedestal 22. The uniform distribution ofclosely-spaced connection locations 62 about the coupler ensures that aconnection location 62 will always be opposed to an connection location62 in an adjacent pedestal 22 thereby enabling ease of installation ofthe bracing. Thus, connection locations 62 should be readily availableat most or substantially all locations about the coupler for readycoupling of bracing wires between pedestals. The bracing should not berequired to be bent or the like due to the unavailability of connectionlocations 62 and should not generate forces that may cause undesiredrotation of any components of the pedestals 22.

The base 26 can also be provided with connection locations 64, such asbrace securement eyelets. For example, each base 26 can have a pluralityof reinforcement walls 66 that extend radially-from an exterior 68 ofthe post 44. The walls 66 can be spaced-apart circumferentially aboutthe post 44 and can extend integrally from both the plate 42 and post 44of the base 26. Connection locations 64 can be provided in the walls 66.In the illustrated embodiment, the connection locations 64 are providedadjacent an area on the base 26 where the post 44 interconnects with theplate 42.

As best shown in FIG. 2, a stabilizing system for the deck system mayinclude cross bracing that ties adjacent pedestals 22 together andrestrains their movement relative to one another. It should be notedhere that the cross bracing, imparts a degree of rigidity over theentire height of the system between the surface 14 and the blocks 12.The bracing can include elongate wires, wire rope, cable or rods, 70that are secured to adjacent pedestals 22. The bracing 70 can extendsubstantially horizontal or can extend at angles to the horizontalwhereby the angular bracing imparts greater rigidity and stability inthe area between the surface 14 and the blocks 12. For instance,X-bracing patterns can be utilized. The ends of the bracing wires 70 canbe crimped and secured to the connection locations, 62 and 64, of thepedestals 22, and the wires 70 can extend coupler-to-coupler usingconnection locations 62 or base-to-coupler using connection locations 62and 64.

The stabilizing system may include a stabilizing bar 80 utilized inplace of the elongate wires, wire rope, cable or rods 70. Suchstabilizing bars 80 extend substantially horizontally or at angles tothe horizontal between adjacent pedestals 22 as best shown in FIG. 5.The stabilizing bar 80 will now be described in greater detail withreference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 4A. The stabilizing bar 80 is formed of twotelescoping halves 82, 84. Each of the telescoping halves 82, 84 areconnected to each other through a telescoping arrangement wherein thefirst half 82 contains at least one projection or fastener 96 such as ascrew, bolt, snap or latching projection or any other suitable fastenerlocated along a top surface 91. The fastener 96 is positioned along thetop surface 91 to engage a securing slot 98 located along the topsurface 91 of the second half 84. The securing slot 98 shown here to begenerally oval in shape, may be optionally profiled to have a widerportion for receiving the projection or fastener 96 and a narrowerportion into which the projection or fastener 96 slides to secure it inthe slot 98. The telescoping nature along with the slot and fastenerarrangement allow the stabilizing bar 80 to be adjustable in lengthbetween end faces 94. The adjustment facilitates use with various sizeblocks 12 or facilitates adjustment that may be necessary because ofblock size variances within tolerances. As an alternative, thestabilizing bar 80 may be one piece formed of an appropriate lengthwithout telescoping halves. The end faces 94, are contoured tocomplement the end surface of the pedestal base 26 which it engages. Thetop and bottom surfaces 91, 92 extend between the end faces 94. Itshould be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art that whilethe top and bottom surfaces 91, 92 are shown here as being either a flator contoured, any suitable contour for either surface is within thespirit of the invention. Here, in this exemplary embodiment, the bottomsurface 92 is shown to have a contour which allows water and/or debristo flow thereunder for better drainage. The contour has a raised portionin the mid-section or center of the stabilizing bar 80 with stepslocated near the end faces 94 which engage the base 26. Adjacent to eachend face 94, a securing opening 86 extends between the top and bottomsurfaces 91, 92. The securing opening may optionally extend from thebottom surface 92 up toward a closed end near the top surface 91 to forma blind hole. The securing openings 86 are positioned to engage aconnection location, in this embodiment, formed as a projection 63 alongthe pedestal base 26 to secure the stabilizing bar 80 to the pedestalbase 26. The projections 63 are profiled to have a draft angle or asshown in the example of FIG. 3, bump 65 for frictionally engaging thesecuring opening 86 thereon. Likewise, the securing openings 86 have acomplementary inner profile with a draft or bump receiving recess 67 forfrictionally engaging the projections 63. The profiles and complementaryprofiles may be arranged to have a tactile indication of securement sucha click to indicate and ensure proper engagement between the pedestalbase 26 and stabilizing bar 80. Although the projections 63 are shownhere to be generally cylindrical, they may have other tubular shapessuch as a rectangular or square tubular shapes or any shape which iscapable of receiving a complementary shape of the securing opening 86.Also, although the projections 63 are shown here to be on the base 26and the openings on the stabilizing bar 80, it will be understood bythose reasonably skilled in the art that the connection arrangement maybe reversed whereby the projections are located on the stabilizing bar80 and the openings are located on the base 26.

It should be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art thatalthough FIG. 2 shows a stabilizing system having bracing wires 70between connection locations 62,64 and FIG. 4 shows a stabilizing systemhaving stabilizing bars 80 between connection locations 63, anycombination of such connection locations 62, 63, 64, bracing wires 70,and stabilizing bars 80, are possible and within spirit of theinvention. Also, diagonal stabilizing bars may be formed in anX-pattern, either from two bars being interconnected or by a unitaryX-shaped bar. Additionally, such bracing 70 or stabilizing bars 80 maybe selectively applied or excluded as necessary. For example, FIG. 6shows the bracing 70 excluded from the top horizontal locations adjacentto the block 12. A particular application may, for example, call for astabilizing system suited to have a combination of stabilizing bars 80located along bottom bases 26 and bracing wires 70 extending betweensupports 24 as best shown in FIG. 6. In that illustrative embodiment,stabilizing bars 80 are provided horizontally proximate to theunderlying structure while wires 70 are located in locations as crossbracing above the stabilizing bars 80. The stabilizing bars 80advantageously prevent movement of the pedestals 22 either toward oraway from each other. As an alternative, best shown in FIG. 6, the wires70 may be wrapped around the stabilizing bars 80 by passing the wire 70trough each of two connection locations 64 adjacent to each side of thestabilizing bar 80. After being passed through both connection locations64 the wire 70 is joined to itself above the stabilizing bar 80. Thestabilizing bar 80, in that embodiment, may have optional notches 93 inthe end faces 94 near the bottom surface 92 for passing the wirestherethrough.

The above-described deck system and pedestal assembly according to thepresent invention provides a stable elevated traffic bearing surface forpedestrians and the like on an existing structure, such as rooftop. Thedeck is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture. The height ofeach pedestal can be adjusted by rotating the support relative to thebase or by adding or subtracting couplers. Cross bracing installedcoupler-to-coupler and base-to-coupler in a manner preventing unwantedrotation of various components of the pedestal assembly.

While embodiments of a ballast block deck system and pedestal assemblyhave been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, andchanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theballast block deck system and pedestal assembly according to the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A stabilizing system for a deck system comprising: a plurality ofpedestals, each of the pedestals supporting corner portions of adjacentblocks, pavers or panels a spaced distance above an underlying structureextending generally parallel to the blocks, pavers or panels, and eachpedestal having: a support having a plate with defined separatequadrants to support the corner portions and a substantially cylindricalpost extending from a lower surface of the plate; a base positioned at alower end thereof and having a base plate and a base post extending fromthe base plate; a coupler that adjustably interconnects the support andthe base, the coupler having a connection portion to engage with thebase post, a flange extending substantially orthogonal from theconnection portion, and a plurality of projections extending from asurface of the flange; and a stabilizing member secured to and extendingbetween at least two of the plurality of pedestals, the stabilizingmember having end faces and a projection receiving member disposed ateach end face to frictionally fit with one of the plurality ofprojections.
 2. The stabilizing system according to claim 1, whereineach base includes a plurality of reinforcement walls that extendradially from an exterior of the base post and extend integrally fromboth the base plate and the base post, and wherein each of the pluralityof reinforcement walls has a bracing securement eyelet formed therein.3. The stabilizing system according to claim 2, further comprisingbracing for restraining movement of the plurality of pedestals, thebracing including an elongate wire, wire rope, cable or rod having oneend secured to the bracing securement eyelet of one of the plurality ofpedestals and another end secured to the bracing securement eyelet of anadjacent one of the plurality of pedestals.
 4. The stabilizing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the stabilizing member is a bar forrestraining movement of the plurality of pedestals.
 5. The stabilizingsystem of claim 4, wherein the plurality of projections are equallyspaced-apart circumferentially about the flange, whereby a uniformdistribution of the plurality of projections about the flange ensuresthat a each will substantially be opposed to a one on an adjacentpedestal thereby permitting ready placement of the stabilizing memberbetween the plurality of pedestals.
 6. The stabilizing system of claim1, further comprising a bump receiving recess located inside theprojection receiving member and a bump disposed on an outside surface ofat least one of the plurality of projections extending from the flange.7. The stabilizing system of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing memberfurther comprises two telescoping halves whereby a length of thestabilizing member is adjustable.
 8. The stabilizing system of claim 7,wherein the stabilizing member further comprises a projection on one ofthe two telescoping halves.
 9. The stabilizing system of claim 8,wherein the stabilizing member further comprises a slot on the otherhalf for receiving the projection.
 10. The stabilizing system of claim1, wherein the connection portion includes a hollow post extending fromthe flange and having continuous or discontinuous spiral threadsprovided on an inner surface thereof.
 11. The stabilizing system ofclaim 10, wherein the end faces are contoured to complement the hollowpost projecting from the flange.
 12. The stabilizing system of claim 1,wherein the connection portion includes a substantially cylindrical,hollow post projecting from flange and a substantially cylindricalconnection post that depends therefrom.
 13. The stabilizing system ofclaim 12, wherein one of the plurality of end faces are contoured tocomplement the hollow post projecting from the flange.
 14. Thestabilizing system of claim 1, further comprising at least oneprojection disposed on and extending outward from a top surface of thebase plate.
 15. The stabilizing system of claim 1, wherein the end facesare contoured to complement the connection portion.
 16. A stabilizingsystem for a fixed surface, comprising: a plurality of pedestals, eachof the pedestals supporting corner portions of adjacent blocks, paversor panels a spaced distance above an underlying structure extendinggenerally parallel to the blocks, pavers or panels, and each pedestalhaving: a support having a plate to receive the corner portions and asubstantially cylindrical post extending from a lower surface of theplate; a base adapted to be positioned on the fixed surface and having abase post and a base plate extending outward from the base post; acoupler connecting to the base post and having a flange positioned abovethe base post and extending circumferentially about a midsection of thecoupler, and a plurality of spaced-apart projections extendingorthogonally to a major surface of the flange; and a stabilizing membersecured to and extending between at least two of the plurality ofpedestals, the stabilizing member having a pair of end portionspositioned near opposing ends of the stabilizing member and a pair ofapertures extending through the pair of end portions to frictionally fitwith one of the plurality of spaced-apart projections.
 17. Thestabilizing system according to claim 16, wherein each base includes aplurality of reinforcement walls that extend radially from an exteriorof the base post and extend integrally from both the base plate and thebase post, and wherein each of the plurality of reinforcement walls hasa bracing securement eyelet formed therein.
 18. The stabilizing systemaccording to claim 17, further comprising bracing for restrainingmovement of the plurality of pedestals, the bracing including anelongate wire, wire rope, cable or rod having one end secured to thebracing securement eyelets of one of the plurality of pedestals andanother end secured to the bracing securement eyelets of an in anadjacent one of the plurality of pedestals.
 19. The stabilizing systemaccording to claim 16, wherein the stabilizing member is a bar forrestraining movement of the plurality of pedestals.
 20. The stabilizingsystem of claim 19, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart projectionsare equally spaced-apart circumferentially about the flange, whereby auniform distribution of closely-spaced projections about the flangeensures that a each will substantially be opposed to a one on anadjacent pedestal thereby permitting ready placement of the stabilizingmember between the plurality of pedestals.
 21. The stabilizing system ofclaim 20, further comprising a bump receiving recess located inside thepair of apertures and a bump disposed on an outside surface of at leastone of the plurality of spaced-apart projections extending from theflange.
 22. The stabilizing system of claim 16, wherein the couplerincludes a hollow post extending from the flange and having continuousor discontinuous spiral threads provided on an inner surface thereof.23. The stabilizing system of claim 22, wherein the pair of end portionsare contoured to complement the hollow post extending from the flange.24. The stabilizing system of claim 16, wherein the coupler includes asubstantially cylindrical, hollow post projecting from the flange and asubstantially cylindrical coupler post that depends therefrom.
 25. Thestabilizing system of claim 24, wherein the pair of end portions arecontoured to complement the hollow post projecting from the flange.